should I fix the hand clutch on my CA?
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=127429
Printed Date: 22 May 2025 at 2:54pm
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Topic: should I fix the hand clutch on my CA?
Posted By: cdon_FL
Subject: should I fix the hand clutch on my CA?
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 10:11am
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The hand clutch on my CA is inop. Tractor is new to me so I don't know what a working hand clutch is good for. Can't imagine using my pto for anything other than mowing (which is why I bought the tractor) and maybe a rototiller at some point. I have the the three point adapter already mounted. And the PTO seems to work fine with my back mounted finish mower. Is getting the hand clutch working worth the trouble (?) How do yall use yours (?) ------------- Chris in NE Florida |
Replies:
Posted By: kev/ont
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 10:15am
| You need the hand clutch to stop the forward motion of the tractor without stopping the mower. I would say yes if it was me i'd want it working. |
Posted By: Larry in NC
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 10:27am
| The hand clutch gives you a live PTO operation. A lot of older tractors do not have a live PTO. If you are going to mow without repairing the hand clutch, you do need to use an overrun clutch on the PTO. If not, the mower can push the tractor when you try to stop. |
Posted By: cdon_FL
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 10:39am
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my david brown and my dexta both have live / two stage clutches via the single foot pedal on the left side. not sure I am smarter than the average bear. isn't having two clutches confusing (?) ------------- Chris in NE Florida |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 10:45am
The two-stage clutch with the single foot pedal is what I really like about the 660/860 Fo-....oh wait....better not say that word! Ol' Shameless might read it! Only thing about those, is they're not wet clutches I don't think. The wet clutch of the WD/WD-45 is great, because you can slip it all day long and not hurt anything. Not so with the CA. It's a dry clutch, so it's best to engage and disengage it fully, with minimum slippage to keep from burning up the clutch.
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cdon_FL wrote:Posted By: Brian F(IL)
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 11:09am
| If you're going to use a mower, I would highly recommend getting the hand clutch fixed and operational. I don't use it all the time, but there are situations where you could run into problems if you don't have it i.e. easing into some tall grass. |
Posted By: GregLawlerMinn
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 11:53am
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Ditto to all the above for having a working hand clutch on your CA. If your clutch is slipping; rebuilding it is not all that complicated. However, if it is "locked up" (ie, wont disengage), it may have been bolted/welded together removal and inspection will be needed determine if it can be repaired. Another forum member has volunteered to post my process on how to rebuild the hand clutch in the Knowledge Page on this forum. You can access them when they are posted there. ------------- What this country needs is more unemployed politicians-and lawyers. Currently have: 1 D14 and a D15S2. With new owners: 2Bs,9CAs,1WD,2 D12s,5D14s,3D15S2s, 2D17SIVs,D17D,1D19D;1 Unstyled WC |
Posted By: GaryL
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 12:03pm
| Hand clutches are great for easing into thick brush, thereby preventing the tractor from bogging down and killing the engine. |
Posted By: Grayray
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 12:33pm
| My grandfather had a brush hog for our WD years ago. The brush hog is long gone, but I still remember mowing with it. In my opinion, the hand clutch is a must if you are going to use the mower. |
Posted By: Hubnut
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 12:48pm
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Chris, Welcome to the forum and AC! Chris bought my CA the other day. The hand clutch is locked and appears to be intact. I learned everything AC on this forum. Rick Corder is the member on this forum that rebuilt my CA hand clutch. I would recommend him. He was very fast (about 1 week) and reasonable. Here's the CA Chris bought from me. Best, Steve http://s202.photobucket.com/user/cytochromeP450/media/DSCN5757_zps6zsdtx3x.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">  ------------- 1940 B "Lucy" 1941 B w/ Woods L59 "Flavia" 1942 B w/ finish mower "Dick" 1941 C w/ 3-point "Maggie" 1947 C SFW w/ L306 "Trixie" 1972 314H |
Posted By: Dmpaul89
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 2:09pm
| I mow with a WD that has a inoperable hand clutch. It works ok but there are times when I would like to have it. A WD can chug through thick clumps of grass not sure a CA can |
Posted By: ac45dave
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 3:49pm
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Welcome to the forum from the se indiana delegation.you'll find out all you need to know and more about allis chalmers on this site. that hand clutch can be as handy as pockets on a vest.i would fix it.i like having every thing functional on any equiptment. fixing it also gives you more quality time to bond and become one with your new baby,lol. ------------- 54 wd-45gas ; 56 wd-45d N/F w/fact p/s ; 63 d-17 sIII N/F gas ; 60 D14 N/F ; 67 d-17 sIV N/F gas ; 63D15 sII W/F; 39rc#667 ; 2021 massey 4710 fwa ; gravely 2 wheel tractors |
Posted By: Gary Burnett
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 4:00pm
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The hand clutches that run in oil like on the WD and D14,15 etc etc are great but the CA hand clutch not so much.The hand clutch on my CA works fine I took the lever off since anyone but a kid or 100 lb woman is going to be cramped big time on the right side with that lever there.I pull a 5ft bush hog with mine a lot with no problem and if I really need to back up a lot with the Hog I just hook it to my Yanmar 330 or Long 460 or........... |
Posted By: MrHDC
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 4:37pm
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Just finished brush hogging 20+ acres of some pretty gnarly stuff on the old farm where I grew up. My newly restored family CA doesn't look quite so "pretty" anymore. I couldn't and wouldn't have attempted it without a working hand clutch. Hervey
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Posted By: corbinstein
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2016 at 7:04am
| with a mower, Either get the hand clutch working, or MAKE SURE that you install an overrunning PTO clutch. The mower can push you thru a fence, into a ditch, down a hill, or over a cliff if you don't have some way of disengaging it from the drive-train. |
Posted By: Jim-Ohio
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2016 at 7:54am
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If a CA hand clutch has been bolted together can it be put back into working order or is it ruined? ------------- '61D17, '51WD, '51CA, '41C, '49C, Woods 5'&6'Mower, 6'Blade, CA-Plow, CA-Cultivator, 3-Btm snap-coupler plow, 4-row planter, WD 4-row cultivator, 80R mower,#7 mower,B/C mower |
Posted By: Leon B MO
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2016 at 8:00am
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On the CA, an L306 Woods mower is run directly off the belt drive, so an overrunning clutch is not an option. Look around and if you do find an L306 mower, I would get the hand clutch working before installing the mower. I use my hand clutch quite a bit when mowing. I also downshift, 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st, at an idle and you gotta be quick, without stopping the mower. Leon B ------------- Uncle always said "Fill the back of the shovel and the front will take care of itself". |
Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2016 at 8:04am
| It can be rebuilt, even if bolted together. I do have some CA clutch parts, so that wouldn't be a problem, if you choose to go that route. PM me. Rick |
Posted By: sandman2234
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2016 at 9:42am
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Chris, I think I have seen that tractor before, as I hauled it out of TN to Fla. David from jax ------------- A proud member of the Allis Express movement! Northeast Florida |